Special Gifts Theatre

Name

Special Gifts Theatre

Legal name

Special Gifts Theatre Inc.

Website

https://specialgiftstheatre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Therapeutic Performing Arts Programs

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAGABAE

Children’s & Youth Theatre

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Theater, Broadway & Performing Arts

SECONDARYEDAKAAAG

Special Education Vocational & Transition Programs (18–22)

Education/Special Education & Learning Support Services/Special Education Schools & Programs

SECONDARYEDAMANAK

Music Therapy (Educational/Developmental Programs)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Music Education (Instrumental & Vocal)

SECONDARYEDACALAK

Parenting Education for Special Needs & Developmental Differences

Education/Early Childhood Education/Parent Education & Family Engagement Programs

Keywords

• Therapeutic theater programs
• Disability arts education
• Peer mentorship training
• Inclusive performing arts
• Community outreach workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Northbrook

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual donations at various levels (Starring Thespian, Standing Ovation, Producer, Director, Designer, Patron, Stage Crew, Gifts in Kind). Corporate matching, tribute gifts, monthly recurring donations, and estate giving accepted.
2. Program Fees: Fees charged for participation in theatre programs: Creativity in Motion ($25/class), Musical Theatre ($47-$52/class), Creating Outside the Lines ($25-$40/class), Peer Mentor ($200). Financial scholarships available based on need.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Business sponsors support mission in exchange for recognition, inclusivity education resources, public relations exposure, and volunteer opportunities. Leadership sponsors at $2,500+ level.
4. Foundation Grants: Grant funding from foundations and community organizations including Aileen S. Andrew Foundation, Barrington Area Community Foundation, Buchanan Family Foundation, Caterpillar Foundation, Dr. Scholl Foundation, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Special Gifts Theatre delivers educational and therapeutic performing arts programming for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Chicagoland through four core programs: Creativity in Motion (therapeutic movement for ages 7+), Musical Theatre (ages 10-22), Creating Outside the Lines (theatre and improv for adults 22+), and a Peer Mentor Program for neurotypical youth ages 10-18. Programs are offered at multiple school and community-center venues with scholarships available based on need.

Product overview

Special Gifts Theatre is a nonprofit performing arts organization that operates four core therapeutic and educational programs for individuals with disabilities: Creativity in Motion (therapeutic movement for ages 7+), Creating Outside the Lines (theatre and improv for adults 22+), Musical Theatre (educational musical productions for ages 10-22), and the Peer Mentor Program (disability inclusion training for neurotypical youth ages 10-18). The organization also offers outreach workshops and annual fundraising events. All programs use the stage as a platform integrating educational and therapeutic techniques with creativity and fun to foster self-confidence, social skills, speech and language development in participants with disabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Creativity in Motion A therapeutic movement class for students ages 7 and older with disabilities. Students engage in embodied storytelling using music and props, designed by a dance/movement therapist to enhance growth on physical, emotional, social, and educational levels. Four sessions per year offered in Barrington, Glenview, Northbrook, and Winnetka at $25 per class.
• Creating Outside the Lines A theatre and improv program for adults with disabilities ages 22 and older featuring impromptu storytelling, character transformation, and team-based performance. Includes fully adapted musical productions and shorter classes in Shakespeare or improvisational techniques. Five sessions per year offered in Glenview, Palatine, and Winnetka at $25-$40 per class. Virtual improvisational theatre offered via Zoom in summer.
• Musical Theatre An educational and therapeutically based program for students ages 10-22 with disabilities that culminates in a fully adapted musical theatre performance. Focuses on individualized skill development for social skills, speech/language skills, and self-confidence with peer mentor support. One musical production per year in Chicago, Libertyville, Palatine-Rolling Meadows, Wilmette, and Winnetka at $47-$52 per class across 19-23 classes per session.
• Peer Mentor Program A disability inclusion education program for neurotypical students ages 10-18. Peer mentors work alongside students with disabilities during activities, choreography, stage work, and character development, receiving training in disability inclusion leadership. Fee of $200 per session. Created by a Certified Disability Mentoring Professional.
• Outreach Workshops Customized community workshops in Chicagoland covering disability awareness, inclusive theatre showcase and activities, professional development, and corporate education and awareness. Delivered to schools, corporate settings, summer camps, and community organizations.
• Strides for the Stage Annual community walk fundraiser supporting Special Gifts Theatre's mission to serve people with disabilities in northern Illinois.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of students demonstrated increased self-confidence during 2022-23 season
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Bataille Academie of the DansecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDance and theatre academy serving as program venue for SGT's Creativity in Motion classes in Barrington. Hosts classes at their facility.
• Chicago Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistrict partnership providing programming venue for Musical Theatre Chicago program at Ebinger School.
• Dance and Music AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDance and music academy serving as program venue for SGT's Creativity in Motion and Creating Outside the Lines classes in Glenview.
• District 15 (Palatine)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool district partnership providing venues for SGT programs in Palatine area.
• District 70coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool district partnership supporting SGT programming in local community.
• Loyola University ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership for Musical Theatre Wilmette program held at Loyola Academy. Academic institution connection to SGT through board member affiliation and research partnerships.
• National Louis UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in research collaboration. Staff member holds master's degree from National Louis University.
• New Trier Township High School District 203coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool district partnership and community connection. Board member affiliated through New Trier Jazz Fest volunteer involvement.
• Northbrook School District 28coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool district partnership for programs serving Northbrook students.
• Winnetka Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool district partnership providing venue for Musical Theatre Winnetka programs at The Skokie School.
• Northwestern UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner. SGT presented at Northwestern's Inclusive Theatre Festival. Research collaboration on inclusive theatre practices.
• Rush UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner in Occupational Therapy. Research projects include evidence-based best practices for community outreach and Stand Out! Program showing statistically significant increase in participant self-determination.
• University of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner for program evaluation research. Board member affiliation with Booth School of Business.
• University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner through UIC Department of Disability and Human Development. Research collaboration on disability studies.
• Northeastern Illinois UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner with research collaboration. Staff member holds master's degree from Northeastern Illinois University.
• Down Syndrome Association of Chicago (Buddy Walk)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for community events including main stage performances at Buddy Walk Chicago. Collaborative disability awareness initiatives.

Scale indicators8 records

Direct peers

• The Miracle Project: Los Angeles-based nonprofit offering inclusive musical theater and performing arts programs for individuals with autism and other disabilities, closely mirroring SGT's integrated therapeutic-arts model and peer-mentor approach.
• National Disability Theatre: National-scale nonprofit producing theatre work created by, with, and for artists with disabilities; comparable mission focus on disability-led performing arts with research and education programming similar to SGT.
• Phamaly Theatre Company: Denver-based disability-affirmative theatre company producing full-season shows cast entirely with performers with disabilities; comparable in mission (disability-led theatre), nonprofit model, and developmental program structure.

Broad incumbents

• The Arc: National nonprofit serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through advocacy, family support, and programming; comparable target population but broader service portfolio beyond the performing arts.
• VSA (Kennedy Center): International program (formerly Very Special Arts) operating inside the Kennedy Center with a broader arts-and-disability mandate across all art forms; overlaps with SGT's inclusive arts mission but operates at much larger scale.
• Best Buddies International: Large nonprofit creating opportunities for one-to-one friendships, leadership development, and inclusive jobs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; adjacent peer given shared IDD population and peer-mentor DNA.
• Easterseals: Large national nonprofit delivering disability services including therapy, education, and community programs for individuals with disabilities and their families; adjacent peer serving overlapping IDD populations.

Regional players

• Trustus Theatre: Columbia, SC-based professional theatre company with dedicated inclusive and sensory-friendly programming for patrons with disabilities; comparable adaptive theatre approach but smaller IDD-specific programming footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@specialgiftstheatre7704
• Facebookfacebook.com/SpecialGiftsTheatre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/special-gifts-theatre-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/specialgiftstheatre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Special Gifts Theatre